Advice on Luger purchase requested
 

I just joined this forum as I have been offered a Luger and I wanted to find out if it is worth purchasing. I will be going to look at it this weekend and want to know what to look for, as I am not a luger collector. The info I have so far is:

Make: DWM
Barrel: 4"
Calibre: 9mm
Condition: Not sure, will know when I see it, however the seller states that it is "original finish/condition", not reblued.
Bore: Unknown
Serial #: I did know enough to ask if it was matching and he confirmed all numbers match except...magazine is missing.

Asking price is $175.00. First, is this a reasonable amount given the info I have provided?
Second: What in general should I be looking for in terms of markings for a DWM?
Lastly, what type of mag would be correct, what is their availability/price?

Any info would be appreciated, prior to taking a look at it. I will also take a digital photo of it.

Regards, Alex

Go for it! The parts alone are worth the money.
<img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

Alex, if it's complete and working it's worth far more than $175. Even with a bad bore it's a steal. As long as you don't have to buy major parts beyond a barrel - if that's even needed - the price is super. Let us know more when you do.

Thank you for the advice. I have read the tech info section and have printed a copy of the data sheet to take with me. I have also read the "Upload Photos" section and will take pics of both sides and the top of the pistol to post.
Besides the maker name, would there also be a date?

Regards, Alex

Alex, there were so many variations of the DWM made it might have no date, one date or two dates, the 1920 double date series. Those that record the dates associated with serial numbers could help you if it has no date. At the price you quoted, it's a steal regardless of a date. It will be more valuable if the serial numbers match.

Alex, I was wondering what neck of the woods you live in where people don't know that any Luger is worth much more than $175.

alex,

Be sure that you are not lured into some backwash 'Deliverance' situation. Take a Dan Wesson .44 mag as 'trade' material.

That's my advice.

As Wes said, be careful, doesn't hurt to take a friend to help look at it.

And I have seen where they call one of the .380 smaller guns that LOOK like a Luger, a Luger. Also the Ruger .22, so when you go to look at it, you might be pleasantly surprised or disappointed.
Good luck. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Hello:

Since you did not post this message on the Newbies Board where no flaming is allowed then I reckon that you are fair game.

I am not certain which of the two of you, the seller or you, is the more ignorant. If the seller's luger is as you state, then he would be a fool to sell it for that price. If you have doubts as to whether the price is fair, then you should not be collecting. Before you go to the purchase site make certain you know what a luger looks like. Once you have that basic knowledge and can ascertain that the pistol for sale is in fact a "luger" complete with grips plates and a magazine and that it is not a rusted piece of junk, I would suggest that you buy it. Then spend a lot of money buying books to find out what you have.

Good Luck

Good Luck

Garfield,
Since when does an individual have to post an honest question in a specific location on the forum to escape your wrath? I really don't like jumping in where I am not invited, so you are free to flame me as you wish, but dangit, you are entirely too free with words like "ignorant" and "fool". I thought we were here to help educate and encourage folks, not blast them out of the water because they haven't got your years of experience.

I wholeheartedly agree that the beginning collector should buy books and learn all he can, but when an opportunity comes up to make a purchase, he should be able to turn to the forum for a little advice without being made to feel like an ass.

Sorry, Ron:

But dangit that is my opinion.

Well you are certainly entitled to it, and I wouldn't deny anyone their opinion. It is just sometimes I wish you weren't quite so rough. Sorry if I stomped too hard.

Hello Alex, and wecome to the Forum,

If your $ 175.00 luger is in good working order, you have found great buy.

Any decent, working order gun for $ 175.00 is a bargin and having it be a luger is the "ala mode"...on a piece of pie.

If you have a digital camera or access to a friend who does, please feel free to post some photos here on the Forum and most folks will help you identify its history...and can steer you in the direction of the right books to read as well about your particular model...

I am one of the newbies here, as we are called. Some even call me a 90-day wonder...but actually it has been nearly 270 days since I got the luger bug.

Once you shoot your first luger, you might get hooked...I am on my 14th. luger and now chasing my 15th. model...

You will find some great luger folks here, and even a few with manners lacking...but stick around, we all seem to co-exist here...

Good luger hunting...

Regards,

Pete... <img src="graemlins/yltype.gif" border="0" alt="[typing]" />

Hello, Ron:

Thank you for your comments. You are very knowledgeable, I read and respect your comments and observations. However, if you will permit me, given the rampant rapeing of neophite luger collectors (there have been several reported incidents on the forum, and no, John S I am not going to provide the specific messages), I simply think that a "hard love" approach, isn't that the liberal term used nowadays?, is the best way to get a persons attention, and, hopefully, help them out.

Garfield,
I knew your intentions were good and your heart is in the right place. Hopefully your message gets across without undue rancor and the neophite is more informed and better for it. And thank you for your kind words, feelings are mutual.

I hope I escape Garfields wrath, but there are deals out there to be had. Espescially up here in the great white north. I got my 41BYF with the original bakelite grips and the holster for $150.00. With that deal I got an old 16 guage double barrel shotgun with exposed hammers(I wouldn't dare try to fire it but looks nice on the wall) and a little single shot .22 all for the one price. Did I take advantage? I didn't think so at the time because I did not know the luger's value. I like to read Garfields posts as he does know more than I ever will about these pistols, but sometimes I do cringe when he answers some of the new posters. Mostly though; he is always to the point and direct with his advice. <img src="graemlins/icon107.gif" border="0" alt="[icon107]" />

Hi,
Garfield is absolutely correct with his post. I'm all for helping out new collectors and sharing information, but NO ONE can answer some of these questions correctly. With no serial number given, no markings given, no conditon details given, you can not even begin to try to answer this with any honesty or correctness. And if you do not know what model of Luger it is, you do not know what type of magazine would be correct. Any comment would be nothing more than pure speculation. **** I also think it would be good to have the posters location on the bottom of their post. **** Good collecting!

Come on chaps, lighten up. An honest question by someone who isn't a collector. From what I understand he hasn't even seen the gun yet; so lambasting him for not having serial numbers, x-rays and video of the thing seems a little harsh.

At a price of $175 I suspect Alex doesn't believe it's that special, (and may well be something other than a Luger). Should it turn out to be a luger in functioning condition, calling in the camera crew might make the owner want a higher price.

Alex; if it is a pre 1945 Luger and all parts are present I'll give you $175 for it you don't like it [img]wink.gif[/img]

Hi Stu,
I guess I wasn't very clear in my intentions. You wrote "an honest question", and we are trying to give "an honest answer". A lot are saying "buy it" as "it is a good deal", but that is pure speculation. Even though it is only $175, we have no idea without more details if it is even worth that. We have no idea if any of it is actually original or if it even functions. We have no idea of who is selling it. We have no idea what the buyer is looking for or is expecting, or would be happy with. In my opinion we should be a lot more hesitant when giving the "go ahead" on an item we have no information on. Lots could be wrong with this pistol, or it could be a real deal, but from the information we have, we just have no way of knowing. Instead, in my opinion we should be giving the advice to be cautious and look at the gun, get all the markings, serial number, and if possible pictures, buy some books, and ask more questions. Garfield said it all with his general statement that you should have some basic knowledge of what you are buying and some basic idea of the value. There is a saying that if a deal sounds too good, it probably is! I guess the bottom line is most are more optimistic than me and I do not have very much trust in these super deals actually turning out to be super deals. Good collecting!

Make: DWM
Barrel: 4"
Calibre: 9mm
Condition: Not sure, will know when I see it, however the seller states that it is "original finish/condition", not reblued.
Bore: Unknown
Serial #: I did know enough to ask if it was matching and he confirmed all numbers match except...magazine is missing.

Based on what was originally stated, I would consider a DWM 9mm original condition matching sns for $175 a deal. He has more sense than I did when I walked into a shop and paid a lot more for mine knowing a whole lot less about it. And I know I'm not the only one to ever have done it that way. I think ya'll just jealous. And reference the
"who is the biggest fool", there is a whole lot of folks out there who really don't care much about firearms in general much less about Lugers.

RK

alex,

If the seller asked you to bring cash, also take the Dan Wesson.

If I may clarify this issue. As I stated in my original post I am not a Luger collector. The details I relayed were provided to me by the seller, a friend of my Father's, and consequently I am not overly concerned with fraud or treachery. I simply decided to gather some feedback and information from the most readily available resource at my disposal...this forum which I discovered via an internet search.

I intended to examine the pistol, perhaps purchase it, and post pictures on this site to gain further info. If doing so provided some input of interest to your group, so much the better.

Thank you to those who have provided positive comments.

Regards, Alex

Alex:

Good luck in your venture. You sound a bit put off. I am not certain what you expected from this forum. You solicited opinions from the members regarding the reasonablness of the price of a P08 that was being offered to you. Had you informed everyone up front that a friend of your father's, a person of impeccable character, was offering to sell you this fine pistol (based on info you supplied) at a ridiculously low price, then, perhaps some of the commments that were not positive in nature would not have been posted.

Be that as it may, you might have had the courtesy to also thank those of us who did not provide you with "positive comments". Life is not always about "positive comments", and, most certainly, luger collecting is not all about "positive comments. But then, since your purpose in contacting the forum was primarily self serving in nature.....

Viya con Dios,

P.S. As an after thought, don't buy this pistol; leave it for someone that would appreciate it.

[quote]Originally posted by alex:
<strong>Thank you to those who have provided positive comments.

Regards, Alex</strong><hr></blockquote>

Alex I lurk here a lot, there are several very knowledgeable decent guys here, you can see some of their responses, just ignore, as I would, will do and do, the nastier ones...

alex,

My comments were given to tell you that the price quoted is a fantastic offer. Do not pass it up. I hope that you caught the humor.

But.....take a bottle of Jack Daniels and you may walk away with the pistol for $75 (or, possibly, you may have to use the Dan Wesson).

Thanks Wes, your humor is appreciated. From what I know of my Father's friend, however, a single bottle of Jack would not impair his judgement much!

Regards, Alex

As a new mmember to this forum and also just recently taken an interest in possibly collecting lugers, I wonder just how interesting this forum would be without the "newbies" that come to post looking for information. It seems that with the relative anonymity of the internet things may be said to another that might not be said in person. In a situation--lets say a bar and this conversation came up the word fool may have sparked a more personal response. If the new fellow posts a question that cannot be answered, ask him to clarify his answer. I recently read another topic from an la reporter where he was treated similarly by some. Will he be back? I don't know. Maybe this could be avoided by having a private room for those that want it. Being rather new to the net itself this site is a pleasure to visit and have seen very few flames here. Alex if it is what it seems to be buy it and enjoy the hell out of it. I know I am with mine.

Hi Hermit,

Just to let you know that if you want to talk about Lugers and share information with a fellow Canadian collector: I'm right here in Montreal, Quebec [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

Regards,

kidvett [img]cool.gif[/img]

As the L.A. cameraman referred to in the last post, no I won't be posting again. I will ask, in private, the opionion of those on the forum, who will answer with no character assasination, an honest question. We "newbies" as we are called are trying to learn, otherwise we won't know what questions to ask. For Garfield, I now own $500.00 of books by real experts in the field. It is a shame we can't communicate without being nasty and derisive. No one likes to be called stupid or a fool. If we make mistakes, they are just that mistakes.

Usually I dont get in discussions where strong opinions are debated but this time I'm in. I consider myself kind of new to Luger collecting ( a couple of years ). I'm no expert and I have the philosophy that there is something to learn in life everyday....

In collecting firearms over the years I came to the conclusion that sometimes we do good deals and sometimes bad ones. The newbie that has an opportunity on a pistol at a low price should get encouragement and advised about the important things to look for on the pistol from the experts ( long time collectors with a lot of knowledge ).

Last week, I asked opinions about a possible refinish on a 1940 Mauser ( see Machining Marks post ) The general opinion was that it had been refinished....so I sold it at a Gunshow last Sunday...I collect Original pistols and already have my shooters....

I sold that P-08 ( see PIC ) for $625.00 CDN ( make the conversion in USD...) Both parties happy!

Comments & Flaming welcomed on my sale!

http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/Code1lft.jpg

kidvett [img]cool.gif[/img]

[quote]Originally posted by kidvett:
<strong> I sold that P-08 ( see PIC ) for $625.00 CDN ( make the conversion in USD...) Both parties happy! Comments & Flaming welcomed on my sale!
kidvett [img]cool.gif[/img] </strong><hr></blockquote>

Kidvett, you've already said it all; Both parties happy! When that happens, it's a good deal. Touched up or not, it is still a nice looking pistol. The buyer should be pleased.

Sorry Kidvett,

but FLAMES are not invited...and should be avoided- see below.

Garfield.

Mistakes are one thing, but intentional 'Flames' are not permitted on any part of this forum. There is no justification for disrespectful or rude behavior. The fact that it is specifically spelled out at the heading of the New Members Discussion Forum that no flames are allowed is intended to put newcomers at ease, not open the door for someone to be rude or disrespectful elsewhere that a newcomer might happen to ask a question.

No one deserves the kind verbal abuse that you have doled out because you considered someone "fair game" and found it personally amusing. I doubt anyone else who posted to this thread found your comments mildly entertaining.

The Lugerforum is not about games. It is about the civilized and respectful discussion of the Luger pistol... between civilized and respectful people, both newcomers and old-timers, who have an interest in this subject. You and I have had this conversation off-line before. I would have thought that a second time would not be necessary...and you have proven me wrong.

You are considered by some to be a very knowledgeable Luger collector...but if your participation on this forum is strictly about your personal amusement or aggrandizement (or is that what you have just termed "self-serving"?) ...and not about sharing your long-term knowledge with those less informed (those who you have so pleasantly termed 'ignorant'), then perhaps it is time that you should consider going elsewhere... How long ago was it that you considered yourself to be 'ignorant' when it came to Luger pistols? I am sure you wouldn't have appreciated being treated in the manner illustrated in this thread.

Despite past communications, I have found your techical expertise on the Luger valuable... I have frequently overlooked some of your previous posts because they were marginal about the rules and I didn't want to nitpick, but techical or historical information at such a high cost is no bargain.

I don't think that I can be any more clear than this. We have rules... if you can't color inside the lines, then you need to find another place to use your crayons... Additional destructive Graffiti simply will not be tolerated here on the Lugerforum.

To Hermit, Rjennings and Alex, I offer my apologies on behalf of the forum.

John Sabato
Site Moderator

Rjennings, Hermit and Alex,

Please stay with us, and if you want to bull around mailto:66mustang@palouse.com66mustang@palouse.com</a> that is always cool.

Some of the old buzzards on the forum speak their mind and forget that they were young. I'm in-between, fairly new to collecting Lugers, yet have had a couple for the last 15 years, but really got into it the last year. (Ask the wife...)

Remember, that freedom of speech goes both ways, that flaming shouldn't be encouraged but those that lurk have as much right to say and as much to learn from as those old wrinkled buzzards (who might be 26 years old) and have forgotten that collecting brings all types. They were burnt once or twice and I think they push their feelings onto you because they want to help. If they didn't post, we'd all miss out, just tell them they are being jerks and you aren't an idiot, just don't know squat about Lugers. Last fall a very knowledgable Colt collector came around and asked some pretty basic questions on Lugers. He said he was a newbie but also knew collecting. Dumb questions might be irritating to those that have been around a long time, but then they should just ignore those questions and let the in-betweeners take a stab at it.

My six cents, I'm in Puerto Rico this week, so speak loud to me.... [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

Obviously the rule against flaming does not apply to Moderators.

[quote]Originally posted by Garfield:
<strong>Obviously the rule against flaming does not apply to Moderators.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Mr. Garrison,

At last. you acknowledge there are rules against Flaming? Thank you for that recognition. However, could I ask when you had this sudden and recent realization? Certainly it must have occurred sometime between your previous posts in this thread, and this most recent post of yours?

Oh - and feel free to "Flame" me back, Bill. I would look forward to the opportunity to treat you, as you seem so capable and willing to treat others in a public forum and format. However, you may be at a slight advantage, as I am not so sure I am as well practiced as you, sir. But I am not a â??Newbieâ?� either â?? so that may be a point in my favor, as you tend to focus on those â??new-comersâ?�. At the same time though, some may say I don't have the patience, grace and manners to deal with situations as Mr. Sabato has shown â?? so you choose your own destiny in this one.

Oh â?? and here is a quote I truly appreciate. You may recognize the author:â??â?¦Life is not always about "positive commentsâ?�.

Bill, I guess â??thisâ?� post of mine is one of â??thoseâ?� comments to which you allude. But for the sake of argument, you should be pleased to know you have driven more people from this Forum then you have â??enrapturedâ?� and â??captivatedâ?� with your pearls of sarcasm and offensive abuse â?? mildly cushioned by your knowledge you begrudgingly share in an open and well-intentioned manner. I would know about their thoughts â?? I get their private e-mails. I doubt they would ever electively communicate with you, so I do not think you can share this same perspective. Can you blame them? I certainly donâ??t.

Iâ??m sure you have an entirely different perspective. Iâ??m not certain I would want to be at the same level so I could consider empathizing with your perspective, however.

No Flame intended, of course. In fact - you might have the courtesy to also thank John and I for perhaps not providing you with "positive comments", but rather â?? the truth about your own conduct in these Forums. I do believe I read something like that in this same thread - perhaps you could remind me where I saw that?

John D.

I am certainly glad that this thread has ended!
I have enjoyed a life that has included a lot of characters who might be considered cantankerous and singular. These men are memorable.
Of all of the genial neighbors with whom I have been acquainted very few cause me to smile to myself upon reminiscence. Whereas many an old f_rt with whom I have had a boundary dispute, or disagreement about livestock, whom I have told to kiss my left britches leg, the memory of them brings back reveries of quite a few pleasant moments.
I am sure that Alex, Rjennings, and Hermit will agree that this is not the hill upon which Bill should die.

[quote]Originally posted by wes:
<strong>I am certainly glad that this thread has ended....</strong><hr></blockquote>

It did?

For the record - I didn't ban anyone and everyone who was here before my post - is still able to post... Further, I'm intrigued by the response anyone might have.

John D.

Well John, I almost closed it more than once.... It is hard for me not to want to, I believe everyone has their right to say something, but hate it when people get pissy at posters and would rather end it, yet understand how "free speech" should be allowed. (boy is that wishy-washy or what?)

I'd rather talk Luger's [img]smile.gif[/img] as I know Wes and you (John) would rather do that than comment on comments of others [img]smile.gif[/img]

As one of the other Newbies (and/or 90-day wonders...) I have gotten the proverbial "bite in the ass" as someone mentioned more than one time from you, Garfield...

I just wondered why you have been one of the few "advanced collectors" that refuses to receive Private Messages through the Forum.

There have been many times when I felt your comments should not go, unanswered by me, on the Forum; but was taught to be well-mannered and to not have such discussions in the "open"...

But since you have chosen to make it a monologue and not a dialogue, I have found other, equally knowledgeable "experts" with which to bug with my newbie questions...

Regrettably,

Pete... <img src="graemlins/yltype.gif" border="0" alt="[typing]" />